Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Pros

Pro

Great value for money

The QuickFire Rapid is recommended as a great beginners keyboard on pretty much every enthusiast community out there due to it's value for money. It's made in the same factory as the Filco's so the build quality is great, easy to find online & comes with a good selection of switches for about half the price of the top-of-the-line options.

Pro

High quality mechanical key switches

The CM Storm QuickFire Rapid uses genuine Cherry MX keyswitches which are the most common and generally considered the best switches available for keyboards. This means a few things:

First, the durability and quality testing are top notch. LinusTechTips took a tour there, and was extremely impressed. They go through vigorous testing, and are the highest quality keyswitches available.

Second, because they're standard Cherry MX switches, they are interchangeable with custom keycaps. Down the road, if you prefer you can get your own custom keycaps which totally change the look of your board. From a minimalist design like this to a custom image like this, or even different shaped keys like this you can modify them to your hearts content.

Pro

Solid build quality

The CM Storm Quickfire is made by the same OEM as the Filcos, so it's of comparable build quality. Given that the Filco costs a lot more money and has one of the best reputations in the industry for quality, this is a great selling point for the CM Storm.

Pro

Lots of other options too (LEDs, choose your switch, numpads+)

There are at least 5 models of keyboards available, with up to 5 different Cherry switches, some have LED backlighting, there are numpads and numpads plus media keys.

Pro

Great cable solution

Not only is the braided cable detachable, but it has cable routing as well. If you want, you can swap out the included braided cable for a longer/shorter/different coloured one that suits your setup better. Also, if you brake the cable (or your pet does), it's cheap to get a new one and very easy to do.

Cable routing helps organize your cables in a more pleasing way. Instead of having the cord come right out the middle of the back, you can have it go on either side of the back which can help make your setup look cleaner.

Pro

Cherry Keys

Cherry is the maker of keys that most gamers and most professional typists prefer.

Pro

Reliable Costar stabilizers

Costar stabilizers offer less friction in their key motion use. Often Cherry branded stabilizers are a bit more mushy when the key is pressed, which is why many prefer Costars stabilizers.

Pro

Easily change keycaps

Included with the keyboard is 6 extra keycaps as well as a tool called a keypuller. The keypuller allows for easy removal of the installed keycaps, in order to switch them out with caps of the users liking.

Pro

Very sturdy

The included rubber feet and fold out back feet allows for a sturdy hold on ones desk. This keyboard does not move or slide around in the slightest, whether the back feet are folded out or not.

Pro

Hides wear and tear well

Thanks to the soft touch coating to the keyboard (not on the keycaps themselves), it is pleasant to the touch but also allows for showing of minimal wear as it tends to hide small scratches and doesn't wear off as easily as some paints do.

Pro

Pretty portable

As noted in another pro, the USB cable connecting the keyboard to ones computer is easily detachable at the base of the keyboard, thanks to the micro USB connection. This makes it easy to unattach and reattach the keyboard at will. Couple this with the fact that this is a tenkeyless keyboard that weights just 2.1 pounds, and you can understand how easy it would be to remove the keyboard and throw it into a bag in order to travel with it.

Cons

Con

Secondary buttons difficult to use

Due to the placement of the modifier key used, in order to get the function of the secondary keys, it can be troublesome to use them. Much like a laptop keyboard.

Con

No alternate layouts

There is no simple option when ordering this keyboard to have it set up for alternate keyboard layouts such as DVORAK. While it is possible thanks to the DSA style keycaps and included keypuller, a new set of keys to swap out will need to be ordered from a third party.

Con

No backlite

There isn't any backlighting on this keyboard. Typing in the dark will be harder to find the keys (especially special characters like @, $ and &). A backlit keyboard also brings a more premium look to it.

Con

Full numberpad costs more

The tenkeyless design (no numberpad on the right) makes the keyboard more compact, but isn't great for anybody that works with spreadsheets. The full sized keyboard is also available, however it costs significantly more.

Con

No spare parts offered on manufacturers site

While the keyboard does come with 6 extra keycaps, if the purchaser wants more or different keycaps (or other parts) they will need to go to a third party. For convenience's sake, it would be easier to get them from the manufacturer.